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在线翻译:
szdaily -> Speak Shenzhen -> 
Ukraine: It’s all about u
    2018-04-03  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

James Baquet

Ukraine (formerly called “The Ukraine”) is a former Soviet Bloc country located in eastern Europe. Relatively large in area, it ranks as the largest country entirely in Europe, and the 45th (of 196) in the world. It is the 32nd in world population, and 6th of those entirely in Europe. Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia, though partially in Europe, are largely located in Asia.

Along Ukraine’s entire eastern, and most of its northern border is Russia; moving counter-clockwise we see Belarus on the northwest; Poland and Slovakia on the west; Hungary on the southwest; and Romania and Moldova on the south. The shores of the Black Sea and its branch, the Sea of Azov, are also to the south, separated by the disputed (with Russia) Crimean Peninsula.

Once a center of east Slavic culture, with the state of Kievan Rus’ as a focal point, since the Middle Ages the country has been disputed by various countries and empires, including Lithuania, Poland, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Russia, until finally becoming a Russian-aligned Soviet Republic in 1922, and independent in 1991.

Long a “breadbasket,” Ukraine is one of the world’s leading exporters of grain. It also produces industrial equipment and aerospace materials.

Kiev, the capital and largest city of Ukraine, was once the seat of the aforementioned Kievan Rus’, but was destroyed during the Mongol invasion of 1240. Today, having prospered since the early 20th century, it is Europe’s seventh-most populous city, and home to important high-tech industries, scientific endeavors, educational institutions and eastern European culture.

One indication of its “crossroads” nature is the number of regional languages recognized, in addition to the official Ukrainian. These include Belarusian, Bulgarian, Crimean Tatar, Gagauz, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Slovak and Yiddish.

According to some sources, the country is over 80 percent Christian (mostly Eastern Orthodox). But another survey shows nearly two-thirds claim no religious belief.

Vocabulary:

Which word above means:

1. with the top moving right-to-left

2. center of attention

3. grower of wheat and other grains

4. people or countries who sell goods to other countries

5. succeeded, did well

6. efforts, attempts

7. disagreed-upon

8. group united for a purpose

9. in relation to something else

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